online calendar

Karl C · online calendar

Hiya,

wanted some feedback on the ONLINE CALENDAR really.

What do peeps think of it ?
I have added another dimension, which makes the club events a sub-calendar of the main one. This means you can filter out (or in) club events only, as well as seeing all the mix together, or apart.

http://www.trumba.com/calendars/benfleet_running_club

mArKw

I use the calendar quite a bit, either from the front page of the website, from iCal on my Mac or on my iPod. Because I can subscribe to the Calendar on the Trumba site with iCal, I can always have an updated calendar available.

Two small annoyances which are more 'designed' features rather than problems. One is that I cannot amend a BRC calendar entry with my own notes in iCal and the other is that the iPod shows limited information when synced, so sometimes I know that there is a run on that night but I don't know what the run is. Except if it is either in the location field or in the notes section of iCal.

I would have to experiment a bit with Trumba and iCal to see if this can be improved for myself without having any negative effect of any other functionality.

I'll stop there before I get too technical again.........

Mark

Mike Mason

karl, I think it's brilliant...is that worth a tenner?

rgds

Mike

Karl C

Mike M,

OR EMINEM, as we call you - stops you getting mixed up with MJ (mikey),

thanks for the nice words -

the money would be on the way but you didn't do all the directives discussed;

1. say the website is good at every chance,
2. not to mention my shorts ever again,
3. not to talk about re-digesting your own nasal fluids (especially during a run)

and finally

4. bring me back a piece of snow from Mont Blanc.

"with his windows down and his system up. So, will the real Mike Mason please stand up? And put one of those fingers on each hand up? And be proud to be outta your mind and outta control and one more time, loud as you can, how does it go?..."

jacklarge

M'n'M - I like it!

icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Very Happy" border="0" /> LOL.

Getting back to the original question:

I think the on-line diary is pretty useful. As MarkW said it has a standard iCal format (if you're into that sort of thing) and it looks reasonable, even printed, which is nice.

The only thing that bugs me is the American dates i.e. 5/9 would be 9th May not 5th September. Karl any way of configuring it so that it has UK style dates?

Cheers,

John.

Karl C

short answer is no, at the moment.

Us European peeps don't have a problem with it.

If you change the page to LIST option then they are listed by month, which should help your confusion.

Karl C

oh for future reference.

M'n'M are sweets, Eminem is a rap singer
(do you have any LPs of his on your mobile DJ rig ?)

due to your recent prediciment (ie, broken 4th meta) are you the only non-mobile moble DJ ?

Karl C

"and it looks reasonable, even printed, which is nice."

thanks for the overwelming vote of confidence, by the way.

jacklarge

Karl,

Mee-ow! I think I've heard of Eminem but sadly most of his stuff is unplayable at weddings / birthdays due to the huge amount of foul language (a lot of gigs have youngsters at them).

As far as I know I'm currently the only non-mobile mobile DJ but hey you've got to have a unique selling point Rolling Eyes

.

Mike Mason

Damn, sorry Karl I missed this post. I forgot the Mont Blanc snow and have just whinged on about your shorts somewhere else on the forum. Can I have my tenner back?

ps managed to cock up logging on again.. Smile

)

rgds
Mike

Karl C

Help, the freebie online calendar I am using for the website ceases to be a freebie in January !

Any suggestions for an alternative freebie would be welcome.
I had taken a look at GOGGLE calendar today, and exported our current listings to the link below.

Feedback would be welcome......

http://www.google.com/calendar/em...061001%2F20061101&mode=AGENDA

Lee O

Looks fine to me Karl, nice and simple....

Stevie

I agree, simple and easy to use, prefer the Google calender

mikey

Hi Karl

Looking at the Goolge Calendar ..... Not Impressed

Or Maybe its not fully set up ?

How easy is it to add links to ? ..... For instance to maps for run starts

Can you have sub-calendars ?

Current calendar has 3 sub calendars, which you can choose to view or not

If the club coaches were going to add marathon schedules to the current calendar, this probably wouldn't be a problem ( could hide inappropriate schedules )

How would this work with the Google calendar?

Karl C

as I say - haven't found anything as user friendly yet..!!

I don't like it - still looking for alternatives.

I do like the sub-calendars on the Trumba one. And as you say Mike, come January we could add user-calendars for Marathon training.

Think a years subscription to the current one might be in order....

mikey

I think so

You only have to look at the X-Country Info / links on the current calendar to see it's advantages.

Run it past Clive .....

£50 or so for a years info, for 100 + runners, seems like good value to me

jacklarge

I agree that above Google Calendar looks fine (I prefer the look to that of Trumba and they have UK style dates).

But… (hey you knew it was coming)
I notice it’s still in Beta (meaning Google don’t think the service is remotely bug-free – as soon as they do they’ll take the Beta label off and start putting advertising on Wink

)
I have had problems viewing actual entries for the dates and looking at the forums it seems that many people are complaining of these sorts of hiccups.

Looking at the bigger picture (calendar/main website/race results) I think that there is a better way of doing this and it all revolves around a custom built database:

Develop a BRC database that includes:

The benefits of this system are:

Mikey's wish list (that is currently satisified by Trumba) shouldn't be a problem either (and at no cost).

Cheers,

John.

Karl C

Cheers peeps, for all your feedback.

John - the "no cost" option involves a lot of your time, as I don't know anyone else who could/would want to do the whole new thing. And as you say, we need it today, as I am already entering races thro 2007.

I have two other options (listed below) but again I don't like them as much as the Trumba one.

I disagree with the comments about the google one looking better. I think it looks gobby and tacky, wheras the trumba one is a bit sleeky (beauty in the eye...and all that)

A lot of peeps like the automatic weekly email with the listings as well.

ding, ding Round Three I feel.

We have until Jan 2007 to decide. Gladiators...are you ready.....?

http://www.calendarhub.com/pub/BRC+Races

http://www.calendarhub.com/pub/Benfleet+Running+Club+Diary

Stevie

I find the Trumba a pain to use as its displayed by week and not day so glancing at the google one is alot clearer.

The fonts for dates and times on the Trumba calender are small and dont stand out whereas google displays the date and the time is indented left which is alot easier to view.

Either way a calender is just a calender and nothing more really, sometimes these things are best left simple rather than having a huge tool that needs alot of time maintaining.
Well thats my view for all its worth - lol Smile

jacklarge

Karl: have no problem working towards a custom-built application but it won't be available today or tomorrow or even before January so I expect it isn't timely enough (not much good for a calendar app Smile

).

Not impressed with the Calendarhub; in which case it's a toss up between the devil we know:

Trumba - which I have to agree with Steve is a little hard on the eyes - though it is 'feature packed'.

And the devil we don't:

Google's Calendar - shaping up nicely and no doubt will eventually be very good/stable. And it has the added benefit of not costing anything.

Steve was right when he said 'a calendar is just a calendar' and as you need it yesterday my vote goes to Google. It'll probably interface with the pedometer and gmail and whatever other web-based applications that they decide to conquer the eWorld with next.

Cheers,

John.

Karl C

Steve, (and everyone really)

the trumba home page calendar link

http://www.trumba.com/calendars/benfleet_running_club

can be viewed several ways - take a look on the lefthand side

VIEWS - can be changed to month, or day if thats what you want.

Are you viewing from the direct link, or just on the race page
?
http://www.benfleetrunningclub.com/races.htm

If you use the race page I can add the view selection box on there aswell.

FONT SIZES - again, tell me where you are viewing the calendar and I will amend to make it bigger if required.

I did ask for initial feedback on this forum Thu Sep 07 and as there were only a few comments I assumed it was all hunky-dory.
This is your service - I find it very useful, but if it is not to everyone's liking please SHOUT and I will try and amend what I can to accommodate everyone.

I have imported the calendar into OUTLOOK, and sent it via IR to my mobiley all OK.

If some like Trumba, and some like Google I would suggest paying for the Trumba and I am happy to run both in tandem (by exporting and importing the calendars) so hopefully everyone will be happy (!?)

icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Very Happy" border="0" />

Mike Mason

I think the calendar is brilliant. As soon as it arrives I print it off and then transcribe each individual line item to my trusty pocket diary - brilliant! Thanks

rgds

Mike

Karl C

Mike, you can download the whole calendar and them import into your calendar thingy in one go

(or are you talking about a old-hat pen+pencil thingy??)

paper is so last year !

mArKw

The clue's in MM's location, Karl.

They've only just started with writing on papyrus in Hockley

icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Very Happy" border="0" />

Mike Mason

Yes Karl - paper and myself go together so well.......

One of the guys at work was trying to interest me in a Blackberry....I understand this is a small handheld device that I would use by wrapping the printed off calendar around and tying it on with an elastic band.

Doesn't sound that user friendly or effective really....but there you go...

rgds

Mike

Mike Mason

and Mark you git..I hadn't noticed your reply. I will sic ernie on you. However, at the moment I believe that he is out in the Woods (Bush) - catching mealy bugs and chiselling some trees with race notes..as his PC crashed.. Smile

)

Rgds

Karl C

paper in Hockley...are you sure !

Whatever next ?

Fire ?

Ernie

Dont worry Karl, we understand.

Just remember Hockley is in the GORC.

Rayleigh is'nt !

Karl C

"GORC"....?

"Get out Rayleigh's classier"..?

jacklarge

mikey

As much as I would like to get into this Rayleigh / GORC debate

As a resident of "Gods Own Running Country" I feel it's beneath me

A swift glance at the club membership clearly shows that GORC is populated by some of the clubs most talented, not to mention good looking members.

Where as Rayleigh seems to be full of Green Eyed Cyber Geek Monsters

Isn't it enough that we give you day passes to run our golden paths ?

Must we put up with this petty bitching from the suburbs ?

Surly the ongoing calendar debate is of greater importance to the running public, than squabbles about who lives in the greatest running area, and who has to travel to get there.

Karl C

"Hear Hear" I cry from the back benches.

Here is not the place for petty squabbles
(lets go somewhere else for that - I love a petty squabble me)

Lets get back to the job in hand in discussing how to improve the online diary for everyone.......

mikey

Well said my green eyed friend

Has anyone re-formatted their diaries to a more eye friendly format ?

What new / exciting features would you like to see incorporated ?

.
.
.

Changing the subject slightly

Must point out that the forum is still on BST ....
How sad would it be, working on the forum after midnight !!!!!

Karl C

I have changed the forum to GMT (instead of GMT +1) as per the instruction from Stevie Dear !

jacklarge

I feel I must reply to Mikey; speaking as a blue-eyed cyber-geek, I take umbrage to the insinuation that the Rayleigh contingent is not talented or handsome. Karl's sartorial elegance is known throughout the club, neigh the county (his shorts have long-distance luminosity). Not to mention my possibly ground-breaking (not to mention foot-breaking) club record of having been a member for 3 months and never having run a race for the club. I'm sure other Rayleigh luminaries will acquiesce and show other examples of your GORC libels. And we (those runners from Rayleigh) never resort to air-brushing our photos let alone, as some GORC-zillas (initials MM) have done, resort to plastic surgery in order to get their avatar to look pretty.

And we know big words, so we do.

As for the calendar I admit to not having 'played' with it as such but it is feature-full (though it still can't get the date the right way round). I promise to give it a go and post the results here so as to make this thread resemble the title again!

Cheers,

John.

Mike Mason

John, this is a disgraceful slur. To suggest that my Avatar has been doctored! It is an old passport photo. It is well known that we from Hockley are a handsome race. Did you know that Ernie was once a Play Girl pin up? Also, he once appeared in the Australian 'Barbie and Tinny Review...'

rgds

Mike

jacklarge

MM,

Ernie a 'Play Girl' who would have thought; Play Girls must have got a lot less 'busty' since I was at school.

Cheers,

John.

jacklarge

OK I've played with Trumba and the experience wasn't that nasty. I easily managed to use the calendars RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed to see all the events / new events in Sage (a news-feed add-on for Firefox that I use). It also didn't take long to set it to remind me of specific events by text message (SMS) to my phone - once I'd got the carrier right (Virgin uses T-Mobile UK not Virgin Mobile!)

That was the good stuff and to be honest after I had a play with Google Calendar I could do the same with that. I know that, as Karl has said, TRUMBA offers an e-mail service that is used by members and I accept that this is a plus point for TRUMBA.

I have changed the 'views' on TRUMBA and I still can't find one that I like. The text is a little too small (though I can use the browsers controls to enlarge the text) and the colours grate (subjective I know). I must admit to still preferring the look and feel of the Google offering but that again is subjective.

In fact I liked Google Calendar so much I bought the company - wait - no, just created a personal calendar. This was very easy but that might have been due to my having a gmail account anyway. Not having Admin'd a Trumba Calendar I can't tell if that side of things is astoundingly better than the Google way, but I'd be surprised if there was much difference.

Trumba does have 'Mixed-In' calendars which is like a sub-set of events that can be viewed (or not) in the same calendar. Google doesn't have this option. Though you could just create another calendar and show (or hide) multiple calendars at the same time.

Google Calendar (and GMAIL for that matter) does sometimes have problems with 'content filters' such as the one used by HMRC (where I work). This could be the major downfall for the service but it looks like they (Google) realise this and are attempting to fix the problem.

Conclusion: Trumba wins on current functionality but this has to be set against the fact that it will have to be paid for rather than Google which is, and is likely to remain, free of cost. Personally, I'd still go down the custom-built route but this is pretty long-term. Short-term I'd say stick with Trumba (if the budget allows) and for those that prefer Google they can always import the Trumba calendar details if they want.

Cheers,

John.

Karl C

If size is your problem John (ooh arrh Missus, in true "carry-on" fashion) then I can quite easily make the text bigger.

I need to know from you, and other peeps where they look at the calendar.

Is it the RACE page, or the TRAINING page or is it direct on the Trumba site.

Either way I can amend the text size, and colour.

For the want of repeating myself - FEEDBACK please.

icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Very Happy" border="0" />

Lee O

Well, chaps I think I will go with my ''Lady Runners Of The World 2007 ''
calender, soon to be found in my Christmas Stocking!!!!

Getting all confused about TRUMBA and the Likes!!

LOL

Lee

Mike Mason

I agree this forum is getting as bad as MajorGeeks .com. We need to get it back to the same level of intellectual wit and wisdom ala Muldoons Island...

rgds
Mike

Karl C

managed to log-in OK then Mike ?

Didn't forget your password again, then ?

jacklarge

OK in non-geek terms: TRUMBA is the name of the service that produces the calendar, that we use for our website. This is not really part of benfleetrunningclub.com as the information is held for us by TRUMBA on their server and we ask for the calendar information that relates to us to be displayed on our site.

It's not half as good as 'Lady Runners of the World 2007' but that particular calendar isn't automatically updated for you by Karl (unless you have something juicy on Karl in which case it is undoubtably the best option).

All clear now?

Cheers,

John.
PS though there's nothing wrong with majorgeeks.com try http://slashdot.org for real geek points.

Karl C

JUST FOR YOU GOOGLEites

I have added a google link for the google calendar onto the main page.

I have updated as of Friday.

Please note I will try and update this weekly,
but for the most current and up-to-date info please use the Trumba calendar as normal.